At recent screenings of “The Defiant Ones” — a documentary series on Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre — HBO CEO Richard Plepler recalled getting early career advice from Iovine, the Interscope Records co-founder who went on to launch Beats Electronics with Dre.

Thirty years ago, when Plepler was starting out, Iovine “had already notched enough success to have a place in Malibu,” Plepler explained, according to a spy.

Plepler “went to visit Jimmy’s Malibu house, only to find a touch-football game with actors, musicians and pro athletes at the beach.”

The future HBO boss was so impressed by the A-list turnout, he recalled asking Iovine, “Jimmy, how did you make all this money?”

Iovine replied only, “Hip-hop.”

Plepler paused and asked, “You think I could get into hip-hop?” But Iovine just shook his head, “Hip-hop, not for you,” he said, then advised, “TV is for you.”